Can You Add Carplay To BMW?

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With firmware beginning with iOS 7.1, Apple CarPlay(r) Preparation is available for all iPhone devices starting with the 5. You must have the optional additional ConnectedDrive Services, which include BMW apps, in order to utilize Apple CarPlay(r) Preparation in a BMW vehicle. Navi Professional also needs to be installed in your BMW.

BMW debuted Apple CarPlay when?

BMW CarPlay is a relatively new invention. Since it’s only compatible with 2017 and newer models, many BMW owners are unable to use it in their vehicles.

According to Apple, the full list of BMW vehicles that support Apple CarPlay as of August 2022 is as follows:

  • F20 and F21 models of the 2017–2022 BMW 1 Series
  • 2017–2022, BMW 2 Series, e.g., F22, F23, F45
  • 2017–2022, BMW 3 Series models such the F30, F31, F34, F80, and G20
  • BMW 4 Series models F32, F33, F36, F82, and F83 from 2017 to 2022
  • BMW 5 Series models from 2017 through 2022, such as the G30, G31, and F90
  • BMW 6 Series models F06, F12, F13, and G32 from 2017 to 2022
  • 2017-2022 BMW 7 Series, for example, G11 and G12
  • 2021-2022 BMW 8 Series models such the G14, G15, and G16
  • 2018-2022 BMW X1, for instance, F48
  • 2018–2022 BMW X2, such as the F39
  • BMW X3 models G01 through 2022
  • 2017-2022 BMW X4 models F26 and G02
  • 2017-2022 BMW X5 (e.g., F15, G05)
  • BMW X6 models like the F16 from 2017 to 2022
  • 2021 – 2022 X5 M
  • 2021 – 2022 X6 M
  • 2018-2021 BMW i3
  • 2019-2020 BMW i8
  • 2019-2022 BMW Z4 G29
  • 2022 i4
  • 2022 iX

Apple CarPlay can be added to vehicles without factory support with the appropriate hardware retrofit, even though it is only officially supported by cars made after 2017. Read on for a few potential solutions if you’re interested in installing BMW CarPlay (including the aftermarket alternative) in your older vehicle.

Visit our guide to F30 upgrades to learn more about retrofits for the BMW 3-Series.

When was Apple CarPlay introduced?

Your conclusion is that BMW Apple CarPlay might be beneficial for you. First of all, keep in mind that it was published in 2014. If your car is older than that, you can be sure it didn’t come with Apple CarPlay out of the box, and there probably won’t be any way to install it without installing more recent, more sophisticated technology.

Even with an outdated iDrive system like the BMW CIC, you can add Apple CarPlay to an older car with a third-party retrofit because CarPlay MMI Prime from BimmerTech is compatible with automobiles built long before CarPlay was even introduced.

BMWs are the oldest vehicles that will have the BMW CarPlay configuration operational because it was initially made available as an option from the dealer in 2016.

Apple Carplay Activation in BMW

You can, indeed! You can add Apple Carplay to a number of BMW models, including the 2018 BMW x1 and 2015 BMWs.

Do you want to use the maps, music, messaging, and Siri commands from your iPhone on your iDrive device? For customers to quickly connect their phones to the iDrive unit and use the apps they have loaded on their iPhones, Apple created the software “Apple CarPlay” for automobiles. applications for calls, messaging, music, and maps. Additionally, Apple is continuously expanding the number of apps that its CarPlay software supports. The whole list of apps that are already compatible with Apple CarPlay is available on the Apple website.

TUTORIAL: How to install Apple CarPlay in BMW vehicles without it out of the box

I’ll demonstrate how to install Apple CarPlay on BMW models (BMW 3 Series, 5-Series, 6-Series, 7-Series, X3, X5, X6, X7) that didn’t have it out of the box in this video lesson.

You need to be aware that only BMW vehicles made in July 2016 and later can support Apple CarPlay (the BMW X1 did not have Apple CarPlay). Apple CarPlay can only be used with an iPhone 5, 6, 7, 8, X, 11, or 12. You can utilize iPhone apps while driving using CarPlay. You can listen to your preferred music, make calls, send and receive messages, and obtain directions.

1. To turn on the central display, press the Start/Stop Engine button.

2. Utilize the iDrive button to access Connected Drive.

3. Open the ConnectedDrive Store and prepare Apple CarPlay. From this page, you can buy Apple CarPlay for one month, one year, three years, or forever. When you’ve made up your mind to buy something, click “Next” and sign into your ConnectedDrive account to finish the transaction.

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Is it possible to retrofit AppleCarPlay into earlier BMW models?

A 2016 BMW is unquestionably not an old automobile, but it is somewhat of a dinosaur in the realm of technology. However, it is possible to retrofit aftermarket head units for the complete CarPlay experience in older BMWs and gain access to all those iPhone apps, including the music collection, contacts, maps, and navigation.

We won’t get into the details of installing units in pre-2017 BMWs, but you can read more about it here on bimmer-tech.net.

Can an older BMW have CarPlay installed?

With BimmerTech’s unique CarPlay MMI Prime Retrofit for BMW, installing CarPlay in an older BMW is easy and affordable. Fortunately, 95% of BMW models built since 2008 are compatible with Carplay MMI.

Simply said, the head unit and iDrive screen are connected by a module in our BMW CarPlay retrofit. It is an addition that combines with the infotainment system, to put it another way. Before you actually turn on CarPlay, no one will be able to tell that you made any changes to your BMW.

Furthermore, it’s a straightforward plug-and-play upgrade that doesn’t involve any coding and won’t violate your warranty. For CarPlay MMI Prime, BimmerTech doesn’t charge a monthly cost either; it’s a one-time refit expense.

By pressing a button on your iDrive controller, you can turn it on. It offers all of the fantastic CarPlay features you’d anticipate from a BMW model year 2017 or later, including with the user-friendly full-screen interface found in the newest vehicles. Furthermore, no BMW Carplay upgrades are required. To access all the newest features and upgrades on the screen in your car, simply update your iPhone as soon as a new iOS version is published.

Can a 2016 BMW have Apple CarPlay installed?

You must first choose the finest BMW CarPlay retrofit option for you. CarPlay is fully supported by the iDrive system in many vehicles made after 2016, even if it hasn’t been turned on. If that applies to you, getting a professional to unlock the built-in BMW Apple CarPlay option is one approach to activate Apple CarPlay in your BMW.

There are BMW CarPlay aftermarket options that can get you up and running if that isn’t an option—either because your BMW is a little older or doesn’t have a suitable iDrive system.

The native BMW Apple CarPlay option and aftermarket BMW CarPlay retrofits differ significantly in this regard. Android Auto is not available in older BMW CarPlay-compatible automobiles, so if you use a Samsung phone or another Android device, you are out of luck.

Additionally, aftermarket alternatives may provide extra freedom. The manufacturer CarPlay interface in older vehicles can only use a portion of the screen, but all BMW models come with full-screen mode in CarPlay MMI Prime. Unlike BimmerTech’s retrofit, which enables both wireless connection and connection via a USB cable, which can be more dependable and less draining on the battery, the OEM alternative forces you to rely solely on a wireless connection with your phone.

The BMW CarPlay upgrade from BimmerTech utilises the dashboard display already in your car and is simple to use with the iDrive controller, unlike many alternatives on the market. However, the native BMW iDrive CarPlay option may be easier to use for somebody who frequently shifts between using CarPlay and other iDrive functions.

How can I make my BMW CarPlay-compatible?

  • Turn on the Bluetooth, Siri, and WiFi on your iPhone.
  • On your iDrive 7 interface, press COM, then click Mobile Devices.
  • Now that Bluetooth is enabled on your iPhone, you should be able to choose your BMW.

Can my 2017 BMW X3 have Apple CarPlay installed?

The Positive The 2017 BMW X3 comes equipped with an excellent head-up display, a linked navigation system, and Apple CarPlay compatibility.

How do I add Apple CarPlay for nothing to my BMW?

I’d like to utilize Apple CarPlay in my BMW, but I seem to recall that it used to be somewhat expensive. Is there a way for me to obtain Apple CarPlay on my BMW for nothing?

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Yes! All of Apple CarPlay’s capabilities are available for free on your BMW. BMW will stop charging users a fee to utilize Apple CarPlay as of 2020. The service is easily downloaded and connected to your car without cost.

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Apple CarPlay can be installed at a BMW dealership.

You must first create an ESA account with a BMW dealership. Hi. Accessed through the attached drive store, the answer is yes. Additionally, you can remotely code it for the car.

Has the 2017 BMW got Apple CarPlay?

Apple CarPlay is a feature that many automakers provide in their latest models, but BMW charges extra for it on every model. It’s unlikely that will change, but those who don’t use iOS or don’t like Apple’s smartphone integration system for the car may soon be cut out.

He explained, “This enables the customer to switch devices.” “Many people purchase [CarPlay] and believe it to be acceptable, but occasionally they stop using it or move to Android.”

For 2017, BMW launched CarPlay as a $300 add-on for vehicles with built-in navigation. The newest iDrive 6.0 user interface was used to introduce a wireless CarPlay configuration with charging on the 5 Series last year as well.

According to Smith, the first year of ownership of a new BMW would be free under the new scheme. Owners would then need to pay $80 a year to maintain the service after that. It would still cost less over the course of a three or four-year lease than the current alternative, he claimed.

Android Auto is not currently available on any BMW automobiles. But Smith claimed that later in 2018, Google Assistant would be available in new BMW models. The business previously disclosed that Amazon Alexa would be included with its latest models. According to Smith, more Alexa abilities will be made available later this year to operate features other than just the locks and lights of a vehicle.